Guilty plea in beating death of senior found gagged and bound with electrical cord

An Edmonton woman was handed an eight-year prison term Thursday for the killing of a 67-year-old man found beaten, bound and gagged in his seniors complex.

Trinna Sowan, 39, had been charged with first-degree murder in the June 7, 2013, slaying of Lawrence Semeniuk, however she was allowed to plead guilty to the lesser offence of manslaughter.

Court of Queen’s Bench Justice Sterling Sanderman ruled it was aggravating that Sowan had been an invited guest at Semeniuk’s home and said the death “wouldn’t have happened” if she hadn’t called her co-accused and then let him into the suite.

“She abused the hospitality he extended towards her in a most grievous fashion,” said Sanderman.

Crown prosecutor Ashley Finlayson told court that the “vibrant” and “very social” Semeniuk had met Sowan at a liquor store the night before the killing and had invited her over to socialize with him and some friends at his suite near 95 Street and 117 Avenue.

Finlayson said that after all of the friends had left, Sowan called Donald Kleppe and then let him into the complex and, at some point, Kleppe confronted and punched Semeniuk after believing he had said something offensive to Sowan.

That led to a scuffle and Semeniuk being gagged, left face down at the foot of his bed with his feet tied with electrical cord and his hands bound behind his back, said Finlayson, adding that the two culprits then exited the suite.

“As a result of being in that position, it appears that he suffocated,” said Finlayson, telling court that Semeniuk’s body was found five days later by the manager of the complex.

Finlayson said robbery did not seem to be a motive.

“It simply appears to be a cold, callous act by the two individuals to leave Mr. Semeniuk in a vulnerable position, which resulted in his death,” he said.

Finlayson also said that Sowan never struck Semeniuk, but she held him while Kleppe tied his feet.

Court heard both Sowan and Kleppe were later arrested as a result of them being captured on a surveillance video at the seniors home.

In victim impact statements, Semeniuk’s family described the talented carpenter and all-around handyman as a “people person with a kind heart” who was “always willing to lend someone a helping hand” and someone who loved to curl and play baseball.

“No human being deserves such a horrible, painful death,” said his older sister Bonnie, adding the slaying was a “cowardly act of violence.”

The religious family also told Sowan that they forgive her.

An emotional Sowan tearfully apologized in court, saying: “I just want to say to the family that I am really sorry for what happened.”

Sowan was given 39 months credit for the time she spent in pre-trial custody, leaving her with 57 months still to serve.

Meanwhile, Kleppe, 30, was handed a life sentence in October after also pleading guilty to manslaughter.

Toblais@postmedia.ca

As Advertised in the Edmonton SUN

Guilty plea in beating death of senior found gagged and bound with electrical cord

An Edmonton woman was handed an eight-year prison term Thursday for the killing of a 67-year-old man found beaten, bound and gagged in his senior’s complex.

Trinna Sowan, 39, had been charged with first-degree murder in the June 7, 2013, slaying of Lawrence Semeniuk, however she was allowed to plead guilty to the lesser offence of manslaughter.

Court of Queen’s Bench Justice Sterling Sanderman ruled it was aggravating that Sowan had been an invited guest at Semeniuk’s home and said the death “wouldn’t have happened” if she hadn’t called her co-accused and then let him into the suite.